Photo: Festival graphic highlighting Dr. Francie Cuthbert, Great Lakes Piping Plover researcher, as keynote speaker for the 2026 Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.
If you’re on the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival email list, you’ve already heard the big news: Dr. Francie Cuthbert will be our 2026 keynote speaker. She’ll take the podium on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Sand Creek Country Club in Chesterton.
Dr. Cuthbert is the world’s foremost expert on the endangered Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers. In the 1980s, when this near-extinct population had no researchers paying attention, she said, “Well, I better get going.”
Since then, she has led the recovery through decades of fieldwork, research, and conservation planning. Her efforts—including nest protection, banding, and captive rearing—have helped drive a remarkable rebound in plover numbers across all five Great Lakes. With the help of countless volunteers, researchers, and organizations, the plovers have moved from the brink of disappearance to a conservation success story, and a dedicated team now works to ensure their future.
Many festival-goers know the story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers, but in 2026 you’ll hear directly from the woman who launched and led the recovery. For background on her decades of work, check out this recent National Audubon story.
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